Demo Class Notes (Sylvia – Li)

Vocabulary

teaching assistant – someone who helps the professor or runs tutorials at university

predominantly – mainly

ex. Most Indians are predominantly Hindus.

hang out/go out/socialise with friends

newcomer/fresh employee/freshman

work overtime /(OT) 

ex. I used to OT a lot in my first year.

overwork – work too much

ex. Some of my friends were overworked during

ex. She had to take time off for being overworked.

Grammar

fewer people/cars – to make comparisons

ex. There are fewer people in Auckland than in Shanghai.

could – past tense of can/formal way of asking permission/asking someone to provide something/ expressing possibility

ex. Last year I could run every day without feeling exhausted.

ex. Could I speak to Mr Anderson, please?

ex. Could you lend me 1000 yuan?

ex. She could be stuck in traffic.

I graduate from the University of Auckland. I have studied abroad for two years and I come to SH for work.

I graduated from the University of Auckland. I have studied abroad for two years and I came back to SH for work.

I use English for email writing and communication.

I use mainly/predominantly use English for email writing and business communication.

I’m really weak at daily greetings. I don’t know how to reply.

I’m really weak at/I’m not confident in/I’m not great at daily greetings/general topics. I don’t know how to respond to basic greetings/questions such as “How are you?”

I’m not nervous when I speak but I would like to improve my speaking.

I’m not nervous when I speak but I would like to improve on my speaking skills/fluency.

Slow-paced, few people. Most of the time I spent on study, but sometimes I go out with my friend. But, most of my friends are Chinese.

Slow-paced with fewer people. Most of the time, I spent on studying/my studies, but sometimes I went/hung out with my friends. But, most of my friends are Chinese.

If you go on the street, the street only have you and another people, the people will say “Hello, how are you?”

If you walk on the street and the street only has another person besides you then the person will greet you with, “Hello, how are you?”

When I was a first-year in my position, sometimes overwork and in weekends, but now it’s better.

The first-year at my company/When I was a fresh employee/a newcomer at my company, I sometimes worked overtime and at weekends, but now it’s better.

We have a study fund for learning and you could use it otherwise it will go to waste.

We have a study fund/budget for studying for self-development and you can use it otherwise it will go to waste.